Water-bicycle



M. SOPCENSE.

WATER BICYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I3| 1919.

1,337,372. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

I I I as 36 J6 2e IN VE N TOR ATTORNEY M. SOPCENSE.

WATER BICYCLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-13, 1.919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WATER-B15 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed .Elugust 1S, 1919. Serial No. 317,358.

i (ZZZ whom it may concern:

' that I Nuns SoPonNsn, a

7 c rcsi -ig' at Soperton, nd State of lVisconsin, i and useful in-- i oles, o1 which the es improvements vehicles a 7 to be peda no surface 01' water.

The principal ob ett of the invention is Li 7 e the i'oiin ot a pedally to be operated and or water in in the accompanying vings, for- 7, material part of this (lLSClOSlll'Q, which- Figure l is a side elevational view showing a gvater bicycle made in accontlance ilh the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan vi w thereo't.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional. view taken on line 3-3 OI hi Fig. e is a front elevation same, and i Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taltei'i on line 5- of Fig. 1.

The frame of the bicycle is substantially triangular in side elevation, consisting of a horizontal 10, joined at its ends by an angular front element 11, the same entending downwardly and rearwardly, while the opposed element 12, s similarly connects-i to the rail 10, at the and extends down ward and to toe f t, the point of con- .1 view of the vergence being extended later y, iormi heating 1%, in which is oins.w ed ezl l shaft 15, having connected its ends 16, adapted to be operated the usual. manner.

A widened extension 18 is forined with the front of the rail 10, and in it is a vertically mounted post 19, from which extend the steering handles 20, the same being formed so as to project equally on both sides extending rearwardly so as to be conveniently manipulated by the operator, the lower end of the post extends downward through a block 22, and is formed rigid with the front A between which is mounted a front wheel 3%, upon the spindle 25.

lilngaged with the spokes oi the whee disk the same being adapted to act as a rotary rudder in cirecting the ve oetween them a guard and a outward from the forks 28 is ow elliptical casing 30, acting as a buoy or float by which a part of the bicycle is supported when used upon the water, this float being provided with a plurality of ribs In acti g as frame therefor.

lit he rear of the rail 10 is a saddle 3S2, ooorte upon a standard having rear I car ying a spindle 35, upon which loulited the Year driving wheel 36, the having plurality of spokes 37, to which are attached transverse plate elements acting as paddle wheels by which the bicycle is propelled in the water.

Also secured upon the spindle 35, is driving wheel to, over which is a belt 41, leading from pulley -12, mounted. upon a spindle 4-3, carried in bracket 4-1, secured to the rear of the standard 33, and extending between the lower portion of standard and the bearing Ll, is curved arm i5, so as to form a rigid brace. Also mounted on the spindle 43 is another pulley 4:6 driven by a belt 6L7, from the driving pulley d8, rigidly secured upon the spindle 15. Thus, as the pedals are actuate-d, rotary motion is transmitted to the driving wheel 36 in an obvious manner.

:l transverse bar 50, rests upon the connccting arm 45, the 7 partially support a engaged at its outer extending end, a opposed pair of floats 52, which entenu recrwardly or; the bicycle, upon either side of the driving wheel 33 and are braced by interior ribs 53 so as to retain their shape when subje ted to stress. These floats are interconnected by cross plates 5% d 55, the latter being; at their extremity, end are further joined by an outer partial band 56, encircling their rear end and firmly 10in them in position.

" superstructure 58, is also on s. hollow inn wheel 36, and is attached by a horizonta plate 57 to the rear standards 33, these plates having side elements 59, and a cover plate 60, so as to prevent the driving wheel from throwing water upward.

In operation, a rider being positioned upon the seat 32, the pedals 16 may be actuated as usual, while the belts transmit rotary motion to the driving wheel 33, causing the paddles to engage with the water and propel the bicycle, which may be steered in a convenient manner due to the disk 26, operated by the fork handle 20, it is being understood that the floats 30 and 52 are so proportioned as to sustain the weight of the bicycle and the rider thereon.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a water bicycle, the combination with a frame, a driving wheel rotatable at the rear of said frame, a steering wlee supports for said steering wheel, said supports being pivoted in a vertical axis at front of said frame, and means for actu ating said supports, of a countershaft secured to said frame, a pair of pedals engaged in said frame, through which power may be comn'lunicated to said countershaft and'to said driving wheel, a pair of floats at the rear of said frame, on either side of said drivin wheel and a sin le float sunported in advance of said steering wheel,

said floats being adapted to sustain the weight of the bicycle and the rider thereon.

2. In a water bicycle, the combination with a frame, of a driving wheel rotatably engaged at the rear thereof, means for rotating said driving wheel, a steering wheel at the front of said frame, means for actuating said steering wheel, a pair of floats arranged upon each side of said driving wheel, a single float extended beyond said steering wheel, a rotary rudder secured to the spokes of said steering wheel, and a plurality of paddles engaged with the spokes of said driving wheel whereby said vehicle may be propelled. a

3. In a water bicycle, the combination with a rigid frame, eans forsupporting a rider thereon, a pedal device carried by said frame, a driving wheel the rear of said frame, said driving wheel being driven by said pedal device, a steering wheel at the front of said frame and means for actu ating said steering wheel, of a pair of floats arranged at the sides of said driving wheel, said floats being of hollow construction, and internally ribbed, a single float arranged in front of said steering wheel, a disk secured to the spokes of said steering'wheel adapted to act as rctar rudder and a oluralit a l .l

of paddles ei'igagedwith the spokes of said driving wheel, ,aid paddles being adapted to propel the bicycle when said pedals are actuated.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. 7

his MIKE; SOPCENSE.

marl: l/Vitness:

Esrnnnn Gr. S'rIorr. 

